El Porto in Manhattan Beach reopens after shark sighting near surfer

El Porto Beach in Manhattan Beach reopened Wednesday morning after a shark sighting in the area the day before.

A Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department helicopter spotted the shark, prompting lifeguards to clear the ocean of swimmers and surfers. KTLA reported that the shark was swimming about 15 feet from a surfer.

The helicopter circled over an area near the north end of the beach close to El Porto Beach, officials said. Personnel in the aircraft used a public address system to warn people.

County lifeguards, however, downplayed the sighting. A lifeguard boat responded to the area and reported seeing a juvenile shark about 4 feet long.

"It was pretty much a nothing deal," a lifeguard official told The Times.

The official said lifeguards were unable to determine what type of shark was in the water, noting that young sharks are often sighted in that area.

The Manhattan Beach Police Department said it received a call reporting the sighting of three sharks. The animals were believed to be docile, a watch commander said.